Angkor Wat (Angkor) -- Fiction; Science fiction; Time travel -- Fiction; World War, 1939-1945 -- Fiction
Gate To Hell Puzzle Solved By Scientists
Lucerne, Switzerland (AP.)--Five Lucerne mountaineers have cleared
up the mystery of the "Hellenloch," or "Gate to Hell," a cavernous
hole in the Niederbauenalp.
The cavern--from which the road of subterranean cataracts
emerged--was discovered years ago by a party of Alpine climbers,
but only a few days ago did scientists venture to descend into it.
Using a rope 850 feet long, a windlass and crane, three of the
party of five were lowered into the stygian hole. At a depth of
300 feet they found themselves in a "glacier-mill," or "giant's
cauldron," said to be the largest ever discovered. It was an
immense hollow 36 feet long and 23 feet wide with azure-colored
walls that _were smooth as glass and that shone weirdly in the glow
of flashlights_.
Four miles lay the Isle of Lanka from the mainland. Approximately an
hour's march. When his wristwatch told him his force had reached the
halfway mark, Ramey envisioned the scene transpiring on the lake's
surface, perhaps above their very heads. Now, from the numerous
wharves and docks, would be putting out a host of tiny craft filled
with soldiers. A cry would rise from the citadel as these invaders
were seen. Ravana's guards would be calling the alarm ... forces now
besieging Vibhishana's tiny garrison might be diverted ... there might
even put out from Lanka an opposing "navy"....
But he could not concern himself with these things. He and his
followers had their own, allotted duty; upon their success or failure
hung the whole campaign.
"On!" he said to Kohrisan. "Faster!"
And Lake O'Brien, irrepressible even under circumstances as vital as
these, chuckled.
"'Sail on!'" he quoted extravagantly, "'and on! Sail on!'--Hey, Ramey,
old Columbus must have been a bargain-hunter the way he kept yapping
about a 'Sale on!'"
* * * * *
Still on they pressed, while moments winged by at a tempo set by the
slur of marching feet. And finally came an interruption to their swift
progress. The Burrower chattered something to Kohrisan, the ape-captain
cried the command to halt. Ramey glanced at him curiously.
"What is it, Captain? Something wrong?"
"Nay, my Lord. But the moment for extra caution is come. Behold the
torch in thy hand."
The torch, which had been spluttering illumination in smoky waves
before them, was now flaring more brightly. Its resined wood was licked
by hungry flames that seemed to leap _forward_.
"Fresh air!" said Ramey. "A draught. Are we nearly there, Kohrisan?"
"Very near, my Lord. It is time to extinguish the torches and move
forward silently."
"But we can't see in this darkness," Lake demurred.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account